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Laser-produced plasma is a promising compact light source applicable in a broad range of wavelengths. We performed a spectroscopic analysis and plasma characterization of the laser-produced plasma of Al, Fe, Cu, and Inconel alloy (Ni/Cr/Fe) to explore their potential applications in the far-ultraviolet (FUV) region where these methods are yet widely exploited. The emission spectrum from each target exhibited a characteristic spectral profile over the wavelength range from 120 to 250 nm. These results were well reproduced by spectral simulations, providing detailed information on the plasma. We also developed a dedicated parabolic mirror that successfully collimated the plasma radiation into beam with an intensity enhanced by a factor of ∼ 35. Our study demonstrated the generation of collimated FUV radiation with an intensity of a 10 7 photons/pulse/1% bandwidth as a potent laboratory-size light source for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For developing and characterizing a novel compact D–T neutron spectrometer based on a single-crystal chemical vapor deposition diamond stack for plasma diagnostics toward future D–T fusion reactors, the initial measurement was performed using the accelerator-based D–T neutron sources OKTAVIAN at Osaka University. This neutron spectrometer was designed for the detection of 3–17 MeV neutrons and operated in the proton recoil telescope configuration by installing a polyethylene converter in front of the diamond stack. The measured neutron energy spectra were obtained by summing the energy of the recoil protons deposited in the diamond stack after the coincidence of the recoil protons identified by the time coincidence analysis. The neutron energy peaks measured by the compact D–T neutron spectrometer were almost in agreement with those obtained by the Monte Carlo N-Particle transport (MCNP) simulation. The energy resolution of the compact D–T neutron spectrometer was emulated to be about 4%–5% in D–T neutron measurement. In future work, the design of the compact D–T neutron spectrometer would be optimized to measure the fusion neutron for plasma diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A middle-sensitivity scintillating fiber detector (hereafter middle Sci-Fi detector) that works at a deuterium-tritium neutron flux of ~105-107 cm-2s-1 was utilized to measure secondary deuterium-tritium neutron emission rates with high temporal resolution at a total neutron emission rate of 1013 to 1015 n/s, where strong magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities were observed in the large helical device deuterium plasma experiments. The gain and angular characteristics of the middle Sci-Fi detector were evaluated in an accelerator-based deuterium-tritium neutron source in the intense 14 MeV neutron source facility at Osaka University. Observation of 1 MeV triton transport due to MHD instability was performed by a middle Sci-Fi detector whose deuterium-tritium neutron counting rate was approximately 20 times higher than that of the conventional Sci-Fi detector. Fusion-born triton transport due to energetic-particle-driven MHD instability was observed using the middle Sci-Fi detector due to its high detection efficiency and high discrimination ability of deuterium-tritium neutrons from the sea of deuterium-deuterium neutrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A middle-sensitivity scintillating fiber detector (hereafter middle Sci-Fi detector) that works at a deuterium-tritium neutron flux of ~105-107 cm−2s−1 was utilized to measure secondary deuterium-tritium neutron emission rates with high temporal resolution at a total neutron emission rate of 1013 to 1015 n/s, where strong magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities were observed in the large helical device deuterium plasma experiments. The gain and angular characteristics of the middle Sci-Fi detector were evaluated in an accelerator-based deuterium-tritium neutron source in the intense 14 MeV neutron source facility at Osaka University. Observation of 1 MeV triton transport due to MHD instability was performed by a middle Sci-Fi detector whose deuterium-tritium neutron counting rate was approximately 20 times higher than that of the conventional Sci-Fi detector. Fusion-born triton transport due to energetic-particle-driven MHD instability was observed using the middle Sci-Fi detector due to its high detection efficiency and high discrimination ability of deuterium-tritium neutrons from the sea of deuterium-deuterium neutrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In molten equivalent salts, a unified relation that the ratio of partial dc conductivities is always equal to the inverse mass ratio, viz. σ+/σ-=m-/m+, has been confirmed in view of microscopic point starting from the generalized Langevin equation. It has been newly proved that the memory functions assumed to be an exponentially decaying form in the Langevin equation for cation and anion are equal to each other. Furthermore, the short time behaviors of moving ions are analyzed in terms of their velocity correlation functions, according to the combination of generalized Langevin equation and damped Einstein oscillator equation. A minor correction for the expression of common friction constant derived before has been given. Estimated results for conductivities are close to those obtained by computer simulation and also comparable to experimental values. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical conductivity of molten salt has been theoretically investigated starting from the linear response theory in view of a microscopic point. The velocity correlation functions in molten salt are expressed in terms of pair potentials and pair distribution functions in detail. Using these functions and generalized Langevin equations for the cation and anion of molten salt, the unified relations among the conductivity coefficients are obtained. In particular, it is shown that the ratio of partial conductivities, σ[sup +]/σ[sup -], is equal to the inverse mass ratio, m[sup -]/m[sup +]. The friction constant of this molten salt is also expressed in terms of the pair potential and pair distribution function, by using the fluctuation dissipation theorem for random fluctuating force. Numerical results for molten alkali halides are presented and they are, more or less, the same order as the experimental results and computational ones. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed WorldCat 3 Krishnan M, Balasubramaniyam N. Reversible tongue atrophy in acetylcholine receptor positive bulbar onset myasthenia gravis. Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS PubMed WorldCat 4 Kitamura E, Takiyama Y, Nakamura M, Iizuka T, Nishiyama K. Reversible tongue muscle atrophy accelerated by early initiation of immunotherapy in anti-MuSK myasthenia gravis: a case report. It is associated with tongue atrophy, the most frequent localized muscle atrophy in MG.[1] Although less common than in anti-MuSK-positive MG, an atrophic tongue can also appear in anti-AChR-positive MG.[[1], [3]] Historically, it was thought to be observed in chronic MG cases, and refractory to treatment.[1],[2] In contrast, recent studies have reported tongue atrophy in the early stage of MG, as observed in our case.[[3], [5]] Additionally, tongue atrophy can respond to treatment even after a prolonged duration.[3],[4] In conclusion, a triple-furrowed tongue is a potent physical sign of MG. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The S100A8/A9 complex is expressed in a subset of activated neutrophils and macrophages in acute inflammatory lesions associated with various diseases. Objective: To investigate (a) whether serum S100A8/A9 levels are increased in patients with unstable angina (UA); and (b) whether S100A8/A9 expression is upregulated in coronary atherosclerotic plaques of patients with UA. Design: Serum S100A8/A9 levels in 39 patients with stable angina (SA) and 53 patients with UA were measured. In addition, the presence of the S100A8/A9 complex in directional coronary atherectomy specimens was studied immunohistochemically. Cell types which stain positive for S100A8/A9 were identified by immuno-double staining with neutrophils and macrophages. Results: Mean (SD) serum s100A8/A9 levels were significantly higher in patients with UA than in those with SA (3.25 (3.08) µg/ml vs 0.77 (0.31) µg/ml, p<0.05). In patients with UA, immunodouble staining clearly showed that the S100A8/A9 complex was expressed in infiltrated neutrophils and occasional macrophages. The S100A8/A9-positive area was significantly higher in UA than in SA (mean (SD) 18.3 (14.2)% vs 1.3 (2.4)%, respectively, p<0.001). Conclusions: The S100A8/A9 complex may be involved in the inflammatory process of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with UA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of the pre-melting phenomena in ionic crystals on the basis of the concept of the hetero phase fluctuation has been applied to KCl and AgCl crystal. The large scale molecular dynamics simulations (MD) in KCl and AgCl crystals are also performed to examine the ionic configuration in premelting region in the vicinity of their melting points. The size of the liquid like clusters are estimated by the theory and MD. The structural features of liquid like clusters are discussed by MD results using the Lindemann instability condition. The ionic conductivities in the pre-melting region are also discussed on the same theoretical basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Cytokines secreted by T cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of lung injury and fibrosis, and the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and activator protein (AP)-1 are involved in the expression of cytokines from T cells during lung injury.Objectives: We assessed the potential therapeutic effect of SP100030, a specific inhibitor of T-cell NF-kappaB and AP-1 in lung fibrosis.Methods: The effect of SP100030 was evaluated using a mouse model of chronic lung fibrosis.Measurements and Main Results: Mice treated with SP100030, as compared with untreated mice, had significantly less cachexia and less lung injury and had decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, decreased activation of coagulation activation, and decreased collagen deposition in the lung. The inhibitory activity of SP100030 was dose dependent and was effective in acute and chronic phases of lung fibrosis. SP100030 inhibited the activation of the protein kinase C-isoform in T-cell lines and suppressed NF-kappaB-driven cytokine expression in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells.Conclusions: These results suggest that the specific inhibition of NF-kappaB could be useful for the treatment of lung fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of cardiac iodine-123 (123I) metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging as a predictor of sudden death in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Design and Setting: Prospective cohort study in a tertiary referral centre. Patients: 97 outpatients with CHF with a radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (mean (SD) 29% (7.5%)). Interventions: At study entry, cardiac I-123 MIBG imaging was performed. The cardiac MIBG heart-to-mediastinum ratio (H/M) and washout rate (WR) were obtained from MIBG imaging. Main Outcome Measures: Patients were assigned to two groups based upon 27% of WR, which was the mean (2SD) control WR. 48 of 97 patients with CHF had abnormal WR (> or =27%), whereas the remaining 49 patients had normal WR (<27%). All the study patients were then followed up. Results: During the mean (SD) follow-up period of 65 (29) months, 12 (25%) patients in the abnormal WR group and 2 (4%) patients in the normal WR group died suddenly. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that sudden death was more often observed in patients with abnormal WR than those with normal WR (p = 0.001). On Cox regression analysis, MIBG WR, H/M on the delayed image and H/M on the early image were significantly associated with sudden death. Conclusion: Cardiac MIBG imaging would be useful for predicting sudden death in patients with CHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The screened effect in molten AgI-AgBr system is discussed by the inverse dielectric function 1/ε(q), which is newly obtained in terms of the charge-charge structure factor SZZ(q) by the re-examined theory of dielectric screening in molten salts. SZZ(q) and in due course, 1/ε(q) are obtained from structural properties of molten AgI-AgBr system by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The obtained 1/ε(q) is multiplied onto the attractive part in the inter-ionic potential between cation and anion to obtain the screened potential. The total screened potential is examined in terms of the potential of mean force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAKASE K., TSUJI K., NAGAYA S., TAMAKI S., TANIGAWA M., IKEDA T., MIYANISHI E. & SHIKU H. (2005) European Journal of Cancer Care Acute interstitial pneumonitis during chemotherapy for haematological malignancy Fourteen adult patients with haematological malignancies (eight non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one multiple myeloma, one chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, two acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and two acute myeloid leukaemia) developed acute interstitial pneumonitis (IP) during the course of chemotherapy. All patients manifested high fever over 38°C, bilateral diffuse pulmonary interstitial infiltrates in the chest radiograph and severe hypoxia without hypercapnia in the arterial blood gas analysis. Pathogenic microorganisms were not detected in repeated examinations in any patient. Chemotherapy given included various anti-neoplastic drugs. Five patients had received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for chemotherapy-induced leucopenia. The onset was associated with an increase of leucocytes in 10 patients. All patients were treated with high dose steroid hormone and broad spectrum antibiotics with or without anti-fungal agents, and three required mechanical ventilation. Eleven patients quickly recovered from these situations, whereas three died. Autopsies were done in two patients and disclosed pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonitis in one and non-specific pulmonary congestive oedema and fibrosis in the other. In conclusion, IP of unknown cause could develop in patients with various haematological malignancies especially at the recovery phase of chemotherapy-induced leucopenia irrespective of the previous G-CSF administration. High dose steroid hormone should be used as therapy for such patients as soon as possible after exclusion of an infective aetiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new simple technique is presented to extract ships from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The procedure is to compute the cross-correlation values between two images extracted by moving windows of a small size from the multilook SAR intensity (or amplitude) images. A coherence image, consisting of the cross-correlation values of the intensity images, is then produced. Ships are deterministic targets, so that their interlook subimages possess higher degree of coherence than the uncorrelated random images of the surrounding sea surface. The main advantage of this method over the conventional constant false-alarm rate is its ability to detect, under favorable conditions, "invisible" images of ships embedded in the speckled image of the sea surface. The technique is tested using a RADARSAT-1 image in which one known and several unknown ships are present. The use of complex images and the exploitation of short decorrelation times of small-scale ocean waves to obtain an extra look are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BACKGROUND: Because egg yolk has a high cholesterol concentration, limited egg consumption is often suggested to help prevent ischemic heart disease (IHD). OBJECTIVE: We epidemiologically examined the validity of this recommendation. DESIGN: We analyzed the relations of egg consumption to serum cholesterol and cause-specific and all-cause mortality by using the NIPPON DATA80 (National Integrated Project for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Disease And its Trends in the Aged, 1980) database. At the baseline examination in 1980, a nutritional survey was performed by using the food-frequency method in Japanese subjects aged > or =30 y. We followed 5186 women and 4077 men for 14 y. RESULTS: The subjects were categorized into 5 egg consumption groups on the basis of their responses to a questionnaire (> or =2/d, 1/d, 1/2 d, 1-2/wk, and seldom). There were 69, 1396, 1667, 1742, and 315 women in each of the 5 groups, respectively. Age-adjusted total cholesterol (5.21, 5.04, 4.95, 4.91, and 4.92 mmol/L in the 5 egg consumption categories, respectively) was related to egg consumption (P < 0.0001, analysis of covariance). In women, unadjusted IHD mortality and all-cause mortality differed significantly between the groups [IHD mortality: 1.1, 0.5, 0.4, 0.5, and 2.0 per 1000 person-years, respectively (P = 0.008, chi-square test); all-cause mortality: 14.8, 8.0, 7.5, 7.5, and 14.5 per 1000 person-years, respectively (P < 0.0001, chi-square test)]. In men, egg consumption was not related to age-adjusted total cholesterol. Cox analysis found that, in women, all-cause mortality in the 1-2-eggs/wk group was significantly lower than that in the 1-egg/d group, whereas no such relations were noted in men. CONCLUSION: Limiting egg consumption may have some health benefits, at least in women in geographic areas where egg consumption makes a relatively large contribution to total dietary cholesterol intake. Copyright © 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is essential for the switching of B cells to IgE antibody production and for the maturation of T helper (Th) cells toward the Th2 phenotype. These mechanisms are thought to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the allergic airway inflammation observed in asthma. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of DNA administration of murine IL-4 mutant Q116D/Y119D (IL-4 double mutant, IL-4DM), which binds to the IL-4 receptor a and is an antagonist for IL-4. Immunization of BALB/c mice with alum-adsorbed ovalbumin (OVA) followed by aspiration with aerosolized OVA resulted in the development of allergic airway inflammation. A single administration of IL-4DM DNA before the aerosolized OVA challenge protected the mice from the subsequent induction of allergic airway inflammation. Serum IgE level and extent of eosinophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from IL-4DM DNA-administered mice were significantly lower than those in BAL from control plasmid-immunized mice. In our study, IL-4 or IL-4 mutants were not detected in sera from mice that had received a single administration of IL-4DM DNA. The results of this study provide evidence for the potential utility of IL-4 mutant antagonist DNA inoculation as an approach to gene therapy for asthma.Gene Therapy (2003) 10, 2119-2125. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3302131 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional balloon angioplasty (BA) of small coronary arteries (SCA) is followed by a high rate of restenosis. Rotational atherectomy may be effective as an alternate treatment of stenoses unsuitable for other devices. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of RA in the treatment of SCA. A retrospective analysis was performed of 226 lesions in 159 consecutive patients who underwent RA of SCA (mean diameter = 2.36 +/- 0.49 mm). One hundred forty-eight lesions (65.5%) were type B2 or C of AHA/ACC criteria. Follow-up angiography was performed at 3 and 6 months after the procedure. Procedural success was achieved in 96.9% of patients. The mean burr-to-artery ratio was 0.74 +/- 0.17. Adjunctive BA and stent implantation were needed in 94.2% and 22.6% of lesions, respectively. Minimal lumen diameter (MLD) increased from 0.66 +/- 0.35 mm to 1.97 +/- 0.58 mm (P < 0.01). Angiographic complications consisted of acute reclosure (3.5%), no reflow/slow flow (12.4%), and coronary artery perforation (1.8%). No death, Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) occurred during the initial hospitalization. Restenosis rates at 3 and 6 months were 40.6% and 44.2%, respectively, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) rates were 28.5% and 33.0%, respectively. Restenosis and TLR rates during follow-up were comparable among patients who underwent RA + adjunctive BA versus patients who underwent RA + stenting. Long-term clinical follow-up was complete in 143 patients over a mean period of 348 +/- 166 days. The survival free from cardiac death, MI, CABG or repeated BA was 59.6% at 1 year. In conclusion, RA of SCA has relatively high restenosis rates, but may be appropriate for more complex, calcified lesions unsuitable for other devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the potential usefulness of methylglyoxal bis(cyclopentylamidinohydrazone) (MGBCP) as an anti-cancer agent in gastric cancer. Effect of MGBCP treatment in the growth of cancer cell lines; List of intracellular mediators for proliferation of cancer cells; Details on the role of intracellular polyamine levels in triggering apoptosis.

During the reproductive period, mothers and offspring exchange hematopoietic cells and develop a form of immunological tolerance bidirectionally. To examine whether previous experience of such communication has any remote effect when maternal hematopoietic cells are later transplanted to the children, we retrospectively compared the outcomes of blood and marrow stem cell transplantation from maternal donors (n = 46) to those from paternal donors (n = 50) by using the database of the Japanese nationwide surveys for adult hematopoietic cell transplants between 1990 and 1998. At 5 years, recipients of maternal hematopoietic cells had a significantly higher overall survival than patients receiving paternal grafts (60% vs 32%, P = 0.006). Although no significant difference was observed in the occurrence of severe acute GVHD (grade III) and the relapse of malignant diseases between two groups, the probability of non-relapse treatment-related mortality was significantly lower after maternal donor transplants. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that parental donor type was the only factor significantly associated with overall survival. In conclusion, our analysis indicates superior survival of maternally donated recipients in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantations from biological parents. This finding has important implications in the selection of alternative familial donors, and warrants further prospective analysis of parental donor transplantations. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 375–380. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which evaluated whether methylglyoxal bis(cyclopentylamidinohydrazone), a polyamine synthesis inhibitor, induces apoptosis and inhibits growth in gastric cancer cell lines. Materials and methods; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Evaluates the activity of thrombin in the sputum of asthmatic patients and its potential role in airway remodeling. Fluid phase measurement in sputum; Assessment of bronchial responsiveness; Increased concentration of thrombin and the occurrence of increased activation of the coagulation system; Relationship of clotting activation markers with airway responsiveness in asmathic patients.

Patients with acute leukemia are at high risk of fungal infection, suggesting that a preventive strategy is required. Fourteen patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia were studied to evaluate antifungal prophylaxis using itraconazole, and the plasma concentration of the drug was measured to determine its relationship to clinical efficacy. The median age of the patients was 50 years (range, 25 to 79 years), and all patients had neutropenia (less than 500 neutrophils/μl) which had lasted a median of 16 days (range, 4 to 30 days). Itraconazole was given orally at a dose of 200 mg (four capsules of 50 mg) once daily for at least 14 days. An H2-receptor antagonist was also given to prevent chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity. Trough plasma concentrations of itraconazole and its metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole, were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The mean concentrations of itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole on day 10 were 300 ± 96 ng/ml (range, 131–428 ng/ml) and 776 ± 369 ng/ml (range, 320–1582 ng/ml), respectively. There were marked inter-patient variations in both concentrations. No side effects were observed in the patients, and there was no definite fungal infection episode during this study. Daily oral administration of 200 mg of itraconazole appears to be effective as prophylaxis against fungal infection in neutropenic patients with acute leukemia. However, there were marked individual variations in the itraconazole plasma concentrations, which suggests that the plasma concentration should be monitored in patients with a risk of low absorption of this drug to adjust the dose given to an adequate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phenomenological theory is given for the time dependence of the relaxation process of an α-AgI sample which has been previously polarized by the application of a voltage. The electromotive force caused by the internal electric field due to the polarized charge distribution is given by a series of exponential terms as a function of Dt, with D being the effective diffusion constant and t the time. The diffusion constants are obtained at several temperatures. In addition, the AC conductivity was measured for the same specimen. The results are analyzed with the help of a generalized Drude theory. Using both the results of the diffusion constant D and the AC conductivity, deviations from the Nernst-Einstein's relation are derived. Furthermore, computer simulations on these quantities were carried out by using well-established pairwise potentials. The agreement is satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in platelet alpha 2 adrenoreceptors and their relation to plasma catecholamine concentrations were studied in 11 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction. A radiolabelled alpha 2 adrenoreceptor antagonist, [3H]-yohimbine, was used to assay alpha 2 adrenoreceptors on platelet membranes, and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The number of platelet alpha 2 adrenoreceptors, the dissociation constant, and plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations were studied 6.6 (3.3) (mean (SD)) hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction and one month later. The mean (SD) number of adrenoreceptors increased significantly from 94.5 (50.5) fmol/mg protein immediately after infarction to 157.0 (65.7) fmol/mg protein one month later. The dissociation constant, however, did not change significantly (4.33 (1.40) nmol/l vs 4.37 (1.22) nmol/l). Raised noradrenaline (5.60 (4.37) nmol/l) and adrenaline (0.28 (0.14) nmol/l) concentrations had fallen significantly to normal values (1.21 (0.67) and 0.09 (0.05) nmol/l respectively) a month after infarction. The decrease in the number of alpha 2 adrenoreceptors soon after infarction may be beneficial because such a change will reduce the strength of various reactions to catecholamines, such as vasoconstriction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Emission computed tomography with thallium-201 was compared with planar imaging in its ability to detect myocardial infarctions of various sizes four weeks after the onset. Tomography was performed after planar imaging at rest in 160 patients with a first myocardial infarction, in whom infarct size was prospectively estimated by the peak value of creatine kinase activity at the time of the acute episode and in 39 patients without infarction. The planar images and the transaxial, short axial, and long axial tomograms were interpreted qualitatively. Tomography was significantly more sensitive than planar imaging in detecting anterior (87% v 96%), inferior (73% v 97%), and non-transmural (47% v 87%) infarcts. The increased sensitivity was confined to detecting small infarcts as assessed by the peak creatine kinase value (44% v 89% when peak creatine kinase activity was less than or equal to 1000 IU/l). The overall sensitivity was 96% for tomography and 78% for planar imaging. The specificity was similar (92%) with the two techniques. Thus emission computed tomography can improve the detection rate of small infarcts that cannot be identified on planar images, by showing the three dimensional distribution of thallium-201, and increases the diagnostic value of thallium-201 scintigraphy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Emission computed tomography with technetium-99m pyrophosphate was used to delineate the location and estimate the size of myocardial infarcts in 20 patients with documented acute myocardial infarction. Tomography was performed after planar imaging within 2-5 days after the onset of infarction. A series of transaxial, frontal, and sagittal tomograms were reconstructed from 32 views imaged from the left side of the patient's chest with a rotating gammacamera. Infarct volume was measured from the tomographic images by computerised planimetry and was compared with the cumulative release of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme. The planar images showed discrete myocardial uptake in 13 of the 20 patients and diffuse uptake throughout the cardiac region in the remaining seven. In contrast, the tomographic images clearly delineated discrete myocardial uptake by avoiding confusion of myocardial activity with that of surrounding structures, particularly bones, in all patients. For the 10 patients whose infarct size was assessed by analysis of the creatine kinase MB curve there was a close correlation between infarct volume estimated by tomography and by cumulative creatine kinase MB release. Thus emission computed tomography can provide a three dimensional map of technetium-99m pyrophosphate distribution within the heart and is thus able accurately to localise and estimate the size of myocardial infarcts in man. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The atomic structure of liquid In-Te and Tl-Te alloys have been investigated as a function of composition and temperature by means of X-ray diffraction. The following features emerge from this experiment. The structure of liquid In-Te alloys is similar to that of pure Te in the range of composition from 35 to 100 at % Te. This implies that the structure of pure Te plays a significant role in these alloys. At the composition of InTe, the second peak near the region of Q=3.2Å disappears with the increase of temperature. This corresponds to the breakdown of the electron localization based on the measurement of magnetic susceptibility. On the other hand, there is no substantial change in the structure of liquid Tl-Te alloys as the delocalization temperature of the electrons is approached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed analysis of X-ray scattering intensity of electrodeposited amorphous nickel-phosphorus alloys has been carried out by X-ray diffraction with anomalous scattering technique. The scattering powers of these alloys were changed by the anomalous scattering of nickel atom for molybdenum, copper and cobalt radiations and the three partial structure factors required to characterize a binary disordered alloy were estimated. It is found that the partial structure factors are approximately independent of the concentration of alloys and the partial structure factors of Ni-Ni and Ni-P pairs contribute mainly to the splitting of the second peak in the total structure factor directly obtained from experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]